Pounce

This page is about the action. For the personals website, see Pounced.org.

To pounce originally described how an animal (usually a wild or domesticated cat) suddenly attacks a stalked object, for example a toy or prey animal. The term has been adapted in the furry fandom as the friendly act of jumping ("to pounce") "on" or "at" another fellow furry, normally in surprise. The word usually refers to a familiar action of affection: As with scritching, the act is considered invasive when done on strangers, or those not comfortable with the idea or the act.

Pouncing is also practiced in many online and virtual words, usually just by saying "Pounce!".